In air travel, uncertainty reigns. TSA staffing shortages, ICE agent deployments and a fatal runway collision at LaGuardia Airport have elevated recent chaos in many airports across the country.
As airports adjust to this havoc, travelers bear the brunt of the fallout, facing canceled and missed flights, increased TSA wait times, and greater uncertainty.
Multiple airports told NBC News they are changing the guidance they give travelers on how early to show up at the airport, in one case doubling the recommended arrival time, according to data NBC News collected.
Most of 21 major U.S. airports recommend the standard two hours in advance for domestic flights and three hours in advance for international travel. However, seven airports, which together service an average of 450,000 departing travelers a day, advised travelers to arrive from 2.5 hours early to four hours early.
These airports range from San Diego to Atlanta and to New York City. Most of the affected airports also have newly deployed ICE agents.
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